Really need help sorting this mess out

pinkyww

Hi

I am new here and looking for some help.
I have been unable to work since 2009 due to poor health and have been struggling to sort out my debts ever since well sticking my head in the sand if i am honest but now I am looking for the best ways to try and improve my credit report and clear my debts up.

The following are on my credit report
I M ltd £ 215 12 late payments
Gothia LTD £ 456 Default 13/12/2013
Mmf uk ltd £185 Default 09/09/2009
Lowell £500 Default 04/10/2011
Lowell £2066 Default 22/03/2011
Lowell £368 Default 19/04/2011
BCW £965 Default 20/09/2010
AG LTD £ 1,579 Default 23/01/2011


There are no other accounts on my credit report and no ccjs.
I have a limited income of £110 every 2 weeks and i pay £70 rent every 2 weeks so have £80 left for the rest of the month after the rent is paid.

What's the best way to improve thing please?

mum2one

With your income I'm taking a punt benefits, - the amount your left with isn't going to really service your debts, I really think you need to take some professional advice, - stepchange - they have a thread on here, I would suggest contacting them, as the way I see it you could really only offer £1 per month off the debts as a token gesture or look at a debt relief order (you owe less than £15,000) there the experts and the advice is a free service.

tlc678910

Are you getting everything you are entitled to - the amount you have to live on after rent sounds very low. Is this because you don't claim housing benefit but pay rent to a relative? Perhaps you coukd ask for some advice on your income entitlements from citizens advice?

pinkyww

Hi

Thanks for the replies. I will speak to stepchange today and see how they can help me.

Yes I get ESA £110 every 2 weeks and do not get any other benefits.
I was told I am not allowed to claim anything else as I currently live with friends who both work full time so although I claim ESA as a single person they took in to account my friends incomes when deciding how much I was allowed.

longtermplanner

I think you should go to your local CAB and talk to them about benefits, as what you have said doesn't sound right to me.

sourcrates

pinkyww wrote: »

Hi

Thanks for the replies. I will speak to stepchange today and see how they can help me.

Yes I get ESA £110 every 2 weeks and do not get any other benefits.
I was told I am not allowed to claim anything else as I currently live with friends who both work full time so although I claim ESA as a single person they took in to account my friends incomes when deciding how much I was allowed.

That may apply to council tax benefit (or whatever its new name is) but surely not housing benefit ?
I would certainly get some advice from CAB if I were you, I know the rules are even tougher now, but you must be entitled to more than that.


With regard to the debts, you obviously cant afford to pay anything towards them right now, on the CAB website there are template letters for various circumstances, I suggest you write to each creditor, using one of these template letters, asking them to write off your debt as you will not be able to pay anything towards it for the foreseeable future.
Explain your circumstances so that they know they will have little prospect of getting paid, be honest with them, at worst, they may not pursue you for the debts, at best, they may write them off, good luck with it.

satchmo1

Maybe ask your friends to draw up a rent agreement (I'm sure someone will be able to provide a link to one)? Then you can go back and claim any entitlements. Your friends have no obligation to feed or clothe you, so why should their income be taken into account?


Go onto http://www.entitledto.co.uk/ to check your entitlements. Even though I look like I've got an excess of savings (because I sold my house in April and the purchase of my new flat won't go through until end of July), it still shows I'm entitled to job seekers allowance (or whatever it's called now).


Are you entitled to DLA (disabled living allowance)? Good luck, and don't be fobbed off.